Tuning-pin for harps and the like.



W. l. KlRK.

TUNING PIN FOR HAR'PS AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2s. 1.913.

1,220,430., Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER I. KIRK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 LYON & HEALY, OFCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TUNING-PIN FOR HARPS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I/VALTER I. KIRK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tuning-Pins for Harpsand the like, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact descrip tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to tuning pins for harps or similar devices.

Prominent objects of the invention are to provide a tuning pin or deviceof the class specified which shall not cut or injure the string attachedto it, and which at the same time shall be effective in holding thestring in proper position.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a harp provided with tuningpins embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the pins;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of an end portionof said pins;

Fig. 1 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 I show a harp 1 provided with tuning pins 2 which areconstructed preferably with a reduced end portion 3 desirably ribbed orcorrugated at 5. A cap or cover 6 is slipped over the end' portion 3 soas to fit tightly thereupon, the ri bed portion 5 forming a tightengagement between said cap 6 and the end 3. An aperture 7 is formedthrough the end 3 and cap 6 for the reception of a string 8. The pin 2being preferably of metal and the cap 6 preferably of celluloid or someother suitable relatively soft material, the strength of the pin isretained while at the same time the portion which is engaged by thestring, namely the ends of the aperture or passage 7, is of softmaterial. Thus the strings are satisfactorily engaged and supported bythe pins 2 and at the same time are not cut or torn by said pins. Theend covering device or cap 6 could be of any suitable arrangement orconstruction, and of course differ in the same from the specificarrangement or construction herein shown.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A pin for a musical instrument string having an end portion providedwith a cap, means preventing relative movement of the pin and cap, saidcap and end portion being provided with registering apertures near theirouter ends, said apertures forming a continuous passage for one of thestrings through the cap and end portion and said cap being made ofrelatively soft material.

2. A metal pin for musical instrument strings having an end portionprovided with a roughened surface, in combination with a celluloid capfitting over the end portion of said pin and covering said roughenedsurface, said cap being provided with means for engaging a musicalinstrument string.

3. A tuning pin having a reduced end provided with a cap of relativelysoft material and having registering apertures formed through said capand said pin near the outer end of both the cap and the pin and meanspreventing relative movement of the cap and pin.

4. In a pin for a musical instrument string in combination, a tubularmember of relatively soft material positioned upon an end of said pin,said pin being provided with a roughened portion adapted to engage saidrelatively soft member, registerin apertures provided in said pin andsaid member, and means for engaging said member with said pin, saidmeans including said roughened portion.

5. In a pin for a musical instrument string in combination, a musicstring, a tubular member of relatively soft material positioned upon anend of said pin, said pin having a roughened portion adapted to engagesaid relatively soft member, registering apertures provided in said pinand said member, and means for binding said member to said pin, saidmeans including said roughened portion and said string.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 25th day ofOctober, A. D. 1913.

WALTER I. KIRK.

Witnesses:

A. L. JoNEs, HAZEL ANN J onus.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

